Spain was absent from a group of 26 European nations that signed a joint declaration expressing opposition to soccer’s controversial Super League project on Thursday ahead of the UEFA General Assembly in Paris.
The letter, which emphasizes the need for open competition and was signed by sports ministers from across the continent, does not explicitly mention Super League but is clearly opposed to the concept. .
Only two clubs, Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, are still publicly participating in the Super League project, a closed-door competition aimed at replacing the UEFA Champions League, the flagship event of European club football. is.
In the letter, the ministers called on sports governing bodies to: “We request that sports competitions be held in accordance with the principles of gender equality.”
This follows a European Union Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling in December that FIFA and UEFA had breached competition law by blocking breakaway leagues.
European football was hit by a bomb attack in early 2021. The announcement of 12 of Europe’s biggest clubs joining the planned Super League sparked a fierce backlash from fans, prompting UEFA to issue a stern warning that participating clubs and players would be banned from participating. It was done. From tournaments such as the World Cup.
Within 48 hours, nine of the 12 rebel clubs (including six English Premier League clubs) withdrew and the project collapsed.
The project’s organizer, A22 Sports Management, launched a legal challenge through the Spanish courts, and the matter was referred to the ECJ.
A22 declared victory over the ruling last December, pledging to launch a new project that would divide 64 teams from across Europe into three divisions and promote and relegate them within the system.
However, a number of big clubs have said they will not support the new plan, including some that had tentatively supported the previous project.
“(We) support the key features of the European sports model, including the pyramidal structure, open system of promotion and relegation, grassroots approach and solidarity, and the role of sport in national identity,” the letter said. There is.
It also called on sports authorities to “maintain these important characteristics and values and ensure a balance between the economic aspects of sport and its educational and social functions in this respect.”
Regarding Spain’s absence from the list of signatures, a Spanish Sports Council official directly addressed Super League.
“The Spanish government has decided not to sign the declaration as the Super League issue remains unresolved,” the source said.
It added that Spain is the only EU member state with ongoing judicial proceedings regarding the breakaway league.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta said last week that Super League “could start next season, it could start in 2025-26, and if not we will review everything.” .